DATE:
March 15, 2022
04
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
AUTHORIZE RENEWAL OF AGREEMENT WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES FOR LEGAL CONSULTATION AND LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION APPEALS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RESOURCE FAMILY APPROVAL PROGRAM (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
The Resource Family Approval (RFA) Program is a statewide caregiver approval process for related and non-related caregivers of children in foster care. The RFA Program combined elements of the previous foster parent licensing, relative approval, and approvals for adoption and guardianship and replaced those processes with one comprehensive approval process. The RFA process improved the way related and non-related caregivers are approved and prepared to parent vulnerable children and youth interacting with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Under the RFA Program, if a family is denied as a resource family or the family's prior approval is rescinded by the county administering the RFA Program, the family has a legal right to appeal the decision to an administrative law judge.
On May 19, 2020 (10), the San Diego County Board of Supervisors authorized the Agency Director, Health and Human Services Agency and the County Counsel to enter into and sign Agreement 19-5062 with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). This agreement permitted legal representation in administrative action appeals associated with the RFA Program for the period of January 1, 2019 through June 30, 2021. A new agreement is required for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024.
The purpose of Agreement 21-5040 is to outline the terms and conditions for the CDSS Legal Division to act as the sole legal representative on behalf of the County of San Diego (County) Health and Human Services Agency, Child Welfare Services (CWS) and the San Diego County Probation Department (Probation) for all matters related to appeals of an RFA denial ...
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